Disclaimer
This article contains light spoilers regarding Zootopia and Arctic Dogs, you have been warned. In addition, as I have access to the original Arctic Dogs script in an un-formatted form, which I had formatted it since and will using parts of it, the Arctic Dogs script is the property of Iervolino and Lady Barcadi Entertainment, who owns the rights to not just the movie, but also the Arctic Dogs spin-off cartoons such as Arctic Friends, Puffins and Puffins Impossible and its live-action Christmas movies “Christmas Thieves”, “Vote for Santa” and “The Christmas Witch”.
And no, I’m not kidding, Arctic Dogs is a legitimate franchise now.
Introduction
Hello, fellow adventurers! Blaziker’s here for not an adventure, but something else instead, something I rarely do given I do not consider myself a full-fledged animation expert. After all, I am learning about the world of animation, just like everyone else.
When you get a chance to explore many animated movies across the world, you will find certain similarities in some of those movies, whether genuine animated movies or pure rip-offs. Even if most animated movies, particularly the low to mid-budget, non-major animated movies, would not be able to enjoy as much fame as the big mainstream ones, at least there will be some fans of that content these days.
However, when two similar animated movies pitted against each other, one that is considered an all-time great and the other being considered one of the worst animated movies of the 2010s, you could not help but to dissect and compare every element of the movies, and that is exactly what I will be doing today.
Today, I am discussing over the main characters from those two similar animated movies: Judy Hopps from Zootopia, and Swifty from Arctic Dogs. Two similar characters, but their differences in their portrayal as role models could not have been this stark. I wanted to compare them side-by-side because they shared some similarities: both of them are underdogs and fought their way to their dream job. However, their attitudes and motivations, as well as how they interact with other characters, are what make them so different.
With that said, let’s get on with the analysis, but before that, a quick reminder of who they are.
About the Characters
We will start the introductions with Judy Hopps, followed by Swifty. Even though most would know why Judy is, a brief summary about Zootopia’s pioneer bunny cop.
Judy Hopps (Zootopia)
Hailing from the countryside of Bunnyburrow, Judy is a female rabbit who dreams being the first ever rabbit cop in the metropolis of Zootopia, but even with her parents’ concerns of her safety and her small statue compared to the larger animals that made up of the police force, she found herself in the Zootopia Police Department and, by chance, in a missing mammal case. With the help of a sly, con specialist fox (Nick Wilde), plus her fast adaptation to the different environments she faced (even a long stay at Zootopia’s DMV equivalent), they not only discover that such a simple case reveals a whole conspiracy that affects the top end of Zootopia.
Swifty (Arctic Dogs)
Swifty, on the other hand, is an arctic fox and employee at the Arctic Blast Delivery Service who dreams of being a “Top Dog”, a term to describe the Services’ mail couriers of the small town he is in. As he struggled to make his way to that position, a chance opportunity presents for him to be recruited as one, while being caught in the middle of an evil plan to destroy the town he lived in.
While I only give brief descriptions of both characters, they both shared similar characteristics: both are underdogs in their own right trying to make their way to the top, both are animal species that would typically not suit the role they are vying for and both got caught in the middle of a major event that could have serious repercussions. However, the differences between their personalities could not have been different, and play a key factor in the success of Zootopia and the failure of Arctic Dogs.
I will explain what I meant based on three comparisons, all having a correlation between each other.
Their Attitudes
To understand how they are different, we need to look into their attitudes in the movie, which plays a role in the other two comparisons.
For Judy, she possesses a sense of compassion, being helpful towards those around her and standing up to what’s right. This was evident in the opening scene as she stood up to then-bully and fox Gideon for stealing tickets and even if he threatened her, she stood her ground even as he slashed her cheek with his claws. She also adapts to the different environments she is in, even when she is at a disadvantage, such as one-upping Nick Wilde the second time they encounter with each other by noting their behaviours and use it against them. This was also clear during her chase of Duke Weaselton, when she found herself in Little Rondentia, a town populated by the mice where both the above characteristics combine. Judy made sure not to accidentally step onto those mice, while using the miniature environment to catch Duke in the act right after she saved Fru Fru (seen in the above picture).
Swifty, on the other hand, is as an attention seeker, trying to grab the attention of anyone of his existence in the ABDS, such as the Russian caribou boss of Magda and the female interest Jade. His first two encounters with Jade saw the arctic fox trying to flirt (and failing) with Jade even if it was a long time since they met, although it did not help that Jade was also arrogant and annoyed towards Swifty as well. In addition, he is also very selfish as he tries to get the “Top Dog” role he wanted for so long, as evident when he got his friend PB for morning exercise to gain that one more pound of muscle to qualify as a “Top Dog”, as well as showing off his newly appointed role as a replacement “Top Dog” upon meeting with Jade again, and when he complain about his job as a “Top Dog” once he began his first actual delivery as one.
Here are a few lines from Swifty when he faked the impression of being a “Top Dog”:
Example 1: Swifty’s Pretend Call
Jade: Hey, PB. Lemmy. Where is Swifty?
(Jade spotted Swifty pretending to answer delivery enquiries)
Swifty: Oh, hey, Jade. Give me a second, would you? (Returning to his ‘call’) I’m sorry, Nasty Naz Narwhal, I don’t have time for a radio interview for tomorrow morning’s show. I know. I realize that all my fans want to hear from me, but they’re just going to have to take a number and get in line, right? Cause when Swifty says he doesn’t have time, he doesn’t have… time.
(Jade exposed the ‘lie’ with the telephone cable not connected)
Jade: So famous you don’t need to plug your phone in?
Swifty: Okay, I gotta go.
(Swifty ‘hangs up’ the call)
Swifty: ‘Sup, Jade?
In short, while Judy is caring, righteous and able to adapt to new surroundings, Swifty is an attention seeker who shows off at every given opportunity, thus framing him as a jerk that is opposite to Judy’s graceful personality.
How They Worked Towards Their Goals
We next talk about how both Judy and Swifty worked their way to achieve their goals, and their differences could not have been this wide.
For Judy, she had dreamt of becoming a cop from the start of the movie. However, once she enters police academy, Judy struggles to find her footing in her new life, especially when all the other animals in the academy are much larger than her. In spite of her size disadvantage, she ignored the stereotypes and trained herself to keep up with the rest of the cadets. She turned her weakness into strength, using her environment and unfavourable circumstances to her advantage. Remember the ZPD training regime she struggled? Thanks to her determination and her adaptability, she uses her small statue to clear the training with ease.
Despite being a small bunny and having not lived in the metropolis of Zootopia, Judy learns the ropes on her own and even when she doubts herself, she has that fiery spirit not to let the reality of being a small cop in the ZPD judge her by the cover, hence how she became a top cadet at the academy.
As for Swifty, he was very obsessive about getting in that role despite his size, and looking at one of the scenes at the movie’s first act, where Swifty’s home is full of posters and goodies which hint at his desires to deliver mail to his townsfolk. However, the bigger issue is regarding how Swifty became a “Top Dog”. After trying to deliver a package without Magda’s permission and gloating on his first delivery with Jade, Magda caught him in the act (thanks to Lemmy the dumb albatross) and suspended him from ignoring her orders, which is justifiable, but given he did nothing wrong during that one delivery, should she let him off with a warning?
Regardless, for some unexplained reason I could not think of even to this day, Otto’s puffin minions kidnapped the three Top Dogs of the ABDS, which clearly made little sense whatsoever. However, that chance opportunity meant that there are no “Top Dogs” to deliver the packages, which gave Magda no choice but to give Swifty the chance to deliver all the mail to the town.
In short, Swifty did not have to lift a finger in order to get the job he wanted, but through a chance event that did not make any writing sense. There was no reason to kidnap the “Top Dogs” given that when Swifty delivered the package to Otto, he was just pretending to be one. While Judy worked her way to becoming the academy’s top cadent, Swifty did not break a sweat to become a “Top Dog”.
Their Relationship with Other Characters
Finally, let us compare their interactions with the other characters, and the content we discussed applies in how they converse with the other characters throughout their respective movies. This is where their attitudes affect their interactions with other characters.
For Judy, her interactions with her parents were of gratitude and comfort, being her main pillars of support during her time in Bunnyburrow and later in Zootopia. That said, it was her relationship with Nick and other characters that showcase her compassion and helpfulness in action.
During her time with Nick, she was apprehensive over working with Nick throughout her missing mammal investigation, but after he protected her from getting fired by Bogo (more about him later), she began opening up to him as they get along, but even after their temporary breakup, they reconcile with Judy admitting her shortcomings of still having the instinct of stereotyping the slyness perceived for foxes. After solving the crime and apprehending the real current, they have made up ever since, thus creating one of the most popular ships in animation history.
However, I find her relationship with Chief worth more to discuss. Bogo did not trust Judy at first, mainly due to the fact that larger, fiercer animal species made up of the police force and not a meek species like rabbits, thus assigning her as a meter maid. They clash once again after Judy apprehended Duke and even threaten to fire her for insubordination after Judy barge in to take on the missing mammal case. On both occasions, however, she stood by her morals and did her meter maid job properly after their first encounter and strive to prove his stereotyping towards her wrong after the second. It goes to show that even when facing adversary with her new boss, she stood by her own ground and do what is right for not just her, but for those around her.
On the other side, Swifty did not show any signs of compassion and emotional intelligence that Judy showcases, instead being a massive jerk that is selfish to other characters. This was evident with his interactions with Jade, where in his attempts to hook up with her, he not only failed to do so, but annoyed Jade repeatedly, which creates one of the most pointless romantic pairings in the 2010s animated movies. An example occurred before Swifty’s first official delivery as a temporary “Top Dog” where he ‘unintentionally’ insulted her by remarking her as ‘just a fox’, an insult he received from Magda when he demanded for the “Top Dog” role, but instead of apologising, he hid it under the rug. When Jade called him out for his behaviour later on, this is what happened based on the script:
Example 2: Swifty and Jade at the Party
Swifty: Jade! Wait. Wait a second.
Jade: Oh, is it my turn now?
Swifty: I gotta tell you what I was trying to tell you earlier. Those packages that you…
Jade: That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?
Swifty: No! Well, yeah. Look, something’s going on…
(Jade stopped Swifty)
Jade: You know, Swifty, ever since I got back, it just seems like you’ve been trying to act like someone else. What’s wrong with being yourself?
Swifty: Come on, Jade. It’s… I’m Top Dog. My dream has come true. What’s wrong with that, right?
Jade (given up): Yeah, I get it, Swifty. I’m glad you finally got what you wanted.
(Jade leaves the ABDS centre)
Swifty: Jade. Come on, Jade…
I also felt that other characters, including his colleague PB, do not enjoy interacting with Swifty due to not just his selfishness, but how he was also arrogant to others when they criticise his behaviour, as shown here when the snow in their town melts:
Example 3: PB Confronts Swifty
Swifty: I sound like I’m crazy, don’t I?
PB: Certifiable.
Swifty: How about now? Do I sound crazy now?
(PB does not believe)
Swifty: You gotta believe me. Why don’t you believe me?
PB: Because for years you’ve been stretching the truth to get attention, that’s why. And quite frankly, I’ve had enough! You don’t have to make up a bunch of stuff to impress me. I’m not Jade. Are you listening to me?
Swifty: Yes. Oh, wait, no! What? I forgot about Jade. They’re using her to build the machine.
PB: Who?
Swifty: The walrus.
PB: The one with the robo-legs?
Swifty: Yes.
PB (giving Swifty some advice): Okay, that’s it. You need to go see Doc Grizzly.
Swifty: No! I don’t like him. Come on, PB! I just need you –
PB (cutting off): You always need me to do something. Well, I need to get to work! That’s what I need to do, but you’re probably not listening, anyway. You never do.
These two moments frustrate me about Swifty. It felt like he was a terrible role model, exhibiting some of the worst characteristics to possess as a movie protagonist. However, the fact that Swifty brushed off PB’s advice after that confrontation angers me. How can you make some that annoying and unlikable be the main hero of the story?
Conclusion
It is important to understand how to write an excellent role model and the full realisation of Judy Hopps as a role model serves as a great contrast to why Swifty from Arctic Dogs is a bad role model. Even though both have similar storylines, how they are written separates the two from each other. Judy is a caring main hero who is easy to root for thanks to her putting others over her and puts in the hard work to break the stereotype of bunnies not suited to be police officers. Swifty, however, is a selfish show-off who just wants to be seen and does not interact well with those around him.
I will be honest, as much as it frustrates me into talking about Arctic Dogs for the infinite number of times in my social media, I still had to talk about it because Arctic Dogs is a great example of how not to produce an animated movie. I can spend time dissecting over each element of the movie to explain why those elements did not work, but today is not the time. Maybe one day when I have the energy, I will go back and write a comprehensive review on the cold brew, but this will take some time to materialise. Until then, at least I got one of those elements out of the way.
Thank you so much for reading this analysis. I apologise if my analysis does not go deep enough, but these are my thoughts about Judy and Swifty as of now. While I do not plan to write many analysis-based essays, it is a great opportunity to think about specific elements of animated movies and how we can learn or do better based on their strengths and shortcomings.
I will see you all in the next adventure and until then, k thanks bye!
